Electronic educational toy appliance

ABSTRACT

A system where a child or other individual arranges one or more computer-recognizable characters on a working platform to spell words or provide a mathematical result in response to computer generated questions or prompts, the system then indicating whether the words or mathematical result is correct.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an educational system forteaching children language and/or arithmetic, and in particular to asystem where a child arranges one or more computer-recognizablecharacters on a working platform to spell words or provide amathematical result in response to computer generated questions orprompts, the system then indicating whether the words or mathematicalresult is correct.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] As computers continue to grow faster and smarter and smaller,they have become omnipresent, reaching people of all shapes and sizes.Nevertheless, there remains one unchanging constant: in order for thecomputer to provide the information or operate as desired, some type ofdata must be provided to the computer. From punchcards in the late 60'sand 70's to teletypes of the 70's and 80's to CRTs of the 80's and tomouses and keyboards of today, there always remains a way for the userto enter data into the computer.

[0005] There has been one segment of the population that has largelybeen excluded from the computer revolution, the young child. This istrue primarily for two reasons. First, young children have not yetdeveloped the metal capabilities or the motor skills to interact wellwith conventional computers, which require data to be entered, forexample via the key board or mouse, in a fixed format. Secondly, youngchildren are interested and entertained by simple sensory input, and thevast resources offered by conventional computers are generally tooadvanced to be of interest to them.

[0006] One simple sensory input of great interest to children is thesense of touch. It is why young children are commonly more interested inthe box or wrapping of a gift than the actual gift contained therein.Several games have been developed which indulge a child's sense oftouch, such as for example those including building blocks. Some suchtactile systems also include letters in an attempt to educate a childwhile they are using the blocks. However, such tactile systems areineffective without adult instruction as to what the letters represent.Moreover, the inventors of the present invention are unaware of any suchtactile systems that work in combination with the vast resourcesprovided by a computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aneasy to use, safe and fun computer data entry device for children.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to make learningenjoyable for children by providing an educational system includingtactile blocks that may be handled by a child indulges a child'senjoyment of.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to combine atactile educational system with the vast resources provided by acomputer.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide asystem for educating children, which may be used by a child without theaid or presence of an adult, and which may be used by a child at his orher own pace.

[0011] These and other objects are accomplished by the presentinvention, which takes advantage of the fact that children enjoy thetactile feel of small hand-held blocks in combination with a system toteach them language and/or arithmetic. According to the invention, aworking platform has a surface for receiving a plurality of blocks,which blocks include characters on one or more surfaces thereof. When ablock is placed on the working platform, the platform is capable ofrecognizing the location of the block, and the identification of theblock.

[0012] The blocks are designed to look and feel like the spelling blocksthat are typically found on the market today —i.e., they may be made ofwood or plastic and easily fit into young child's hand; they have big,bright letters or pictures or symbols etched or displayed in a varietyof colors on one or more of the surfaces of the blocks.

[0013] Preferably, each block includes directly beneath the surface anidentification device for each character on the block that is capable oftransmitting a signal uniquely representative of the character. When aparticular block is placed on the working platform in a particularlocation, a sensor associated with that location detects theidentification of the block.

[0014] The working platform includes a data processing device such as acomputer, and digital circuitry that receives as an input the locationand the identification of the detected block. The digital circuitryconverts this information into a computer usable form and sends it via adata line into the computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is an isometric representation of the educational systemaccording to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an isometric representation of an alternative embodimentof the educational system according to the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the processing deviceaccording to the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the characteridentification transmission system according to the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the character identification andblock location systems within the character blocks and working platformaccording to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the block location system withinthe working platform according to an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a top view of the block location system within theworking platform according to an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 7; and

[0024]FIG. 9 is a schematic of a working platform controller accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1-9 which in general relate to, an education system for teachingchildren or other individuals language and/or arithmetic. In a preferredembodiment, the system would be utilized by children to spell wordsand/or to indicate a mathematical result. However, it is understood thatthe present invention may be utilized by any individual to provide oneor more computer-recognizable characters in a desired sequence,generally in response to computer generated questions or prompts.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention preferablyincludes a plurality of blocks 20, each containing an alphanumericcharacter on a surface thereof. The alphanumeric characters may includeletters, numbers and/or punctuation marks. In an alternative embodimentof the invention, it is contemplated that the blocks 20 include picturesor symbols such as the sun, moon, animals, etc., in addition to orinstead of the alphanumeric characters. In a further embodiment of thepresent invention, the blocks may include characters made up of raiseddots that form braille letters, numbers and other braille characters.

[0027] A character on a surface of a block 20 may be defined by being adifferent color than the rest of the block surface surrounding thecharacter. The character may additionally be raised or lowered relativeto the block surface containing the character. In the embodiment of theinvention including braille characters, the characters would of coursebe at a different elevation relative to the block surface surroundingthe characters.

[0028] The blocks 20 are preferably formed of durable and wear-resistantmaterial capable of withstanding substantial shock due to throwing ofthe block or other similar impacts. Moreover, the blocks are preferablyformed of a non-toxic material to avoid injury in the event a childattempts to put the block in his or her mouth. A preferred material isany of several high strength polycarbonates. However, several othermaterials may be used, such as for example wood and metal. Preferably,the material should allow character-recognition components, certainembodiments of which described hereinafter, to be included with theblocks 20 during block fabrication. Moreover, to make the blockssuitable for use by children, the blocks should be large enough not tofit entirely within a child's mouth, should have all edges rounded, andshould be light weight to prevent injury if thrown. It is understoodthat the above-described characteristics of the blocks that make themsuitable for use by children may be omitted in alternative embodimentsof the present invention.

[0029] The blocks are used in conjunction with a processing device 22,which may include in part a conventional computer. As shown in theisometric view of FIG. 1 and the schematic representation shown in FIG.3, the processing device 22 preferably includes a conventional datastorage device 23 for storing data, a conventional monitor 24 for visualdisplay, a conventional speaker 26 for audio playback, a workingplatform 28 for supporting the blocks 20 and for generatingcharacter-identification and block information, and a conventionalcentral processing unit (“CPU”) 30 capable of executing softwareinstructions, and capable of communicating with the data storage device23, the monitor 24, the speaker 26, and the working platform 28. It isunderstood that one or the other of the monitor 24 and speaker 26 may beomitted in alternative embodiments of the present invention. It is alsounderstood that the data storage device 23 may be omitted in alternativeembodiments of the invention.

[0030] Moreover, as shown in the alternative embodiment of FIG. 2, theprocessing device 22 may be contained within a unitary enclosure, theupper surface of which forms the working platform 28. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, the CPU 30, the data storage device 23, and the speaker26 may be included within the enclosure.

[0031] Once a block is located on the working platform, the platformgenerates a signal for use by an application program running on theprocessing device 22 as explained hereinafter. The generation processesin the working platform are controlled by a microprocessor 55 (FIG. 9)in the working platform. As described in greater detail below, themicroprocessor 55 scans the working platform for placement of one ormore blocks thereon. Upon detection of the placement of a block on theworking platform, the microprocessor 55 encodes the location andidentification information into an encoded binary message. The messageis then sent preferably over a dedicated line 32 to the processingdevice 22.

[0032] The line 32 is preferably bi-directional so the processing device22 can send commands or other information to the working platform. Forexample, in the embodiments described below in which the workingplatform comprises a touch-sensitive display screen (preferably, flatpanel), the bi-directional line allows the processing device 22 todisplay images on the flat panel screen to facilitate interactionbetween the application software and user thereof.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, line 32 my be omitted and replacedby a wireless digital communication link between the processing device22 and working platform 28. Advantageously, according to thisembodiment, the working platform may be used a greater distance from theprocessing device 22 without concern over extension wires.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4-5, each block 20 is capable ofoutputting a character identification signal that uniquely representsthe character indicated on the upper surface of the block. The workingplatform 28 serves to support the blocks 20, to generate characteridentification information for a block based on the characteridentification signal output from that block, and also to generatelocation information indicating the location of a block 20 relative toeach other block 20 on the working platform. The working platformforwards the block location information and the character identificationinformation to the processing device 22 via the line 32 coupling theworking platform 28 with the CPU 30. The working platform 28 furtherincludes a button 34 which initiates the generation of the blocklocation information and character identification information by theworking platform, and also triggers the transfer of the information tothe processing device 22. (In an alternative embodiment, in operationthe block location information and the character identificationinformation are continuously generated and transmitted to the processingdevice 22.) It is understood that structures other than button 34 may beused in alternative embodiments, such as for example a conventionalmouse.

[0035] In operation, when a user of the system according to the presentinvention is finished arranging the blocks 20 on the platform 28, theuser depresses button 34, and the generation and transfer of informationis initiated. In a preferred embodiment, the block location informationand character identification information may converted to a digitalsignal, which may be transmitted over the line 32 to the CPU 30. Theblock location and character identification information may be storedand transferred as a multiple bit word, containing both block locationinformation and character identification information. It is understoodthat the number of bits used to transmit the digital signal may vary inalternative embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] The character identification information and the block locationinformation may be generated by any of several known technologies. Asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each block 20 preferably includes a transmissionsystem 36 mounted within the block proximate to a surface of the blockopposed to the surface including the character. Known transmissionsystems are sufficiently small so as to allow one or more such systemsto be provided within the block. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the transmission system includes a receiver 38, amicroprocessing chip 40, and a transmitter 42. The microprocessing chip40 is powered by an energizing signal, in the form of an electromagneticwave received from the working platform 28, as explained in greaterdetail below. Receipt of the energizing signal allows the transmissionsystem to operate without an on-board power source. The energizingsignal is received in the chip 40 via the receiver 38. Once energized,the chip emits the character identification signal including encodedinformation uniquely representative of the character on the block. Thecharacter information signal is forwarded by the transmitter 42 to theworking platform 28, where the signal is converted to a digital signalvia an analog-to-digital converter (not shown). Systems such astransmission system 36 are commercially available from SensorEngineering Co., Hamden, Conn. 06517.

[0037] It is understood that other known technologies may be utilized tocommunicate the identity of the character on a block 20 to the workingplatform 28. For example, block 20 may include a transmission system 36comprised of magnetically encoded data uniquely representative of thecharacter on the block. The magnetically encoded data may be read by oneor more sensors such as transducers provided within the workingplatform. In a further embodiment of the present invention, each blockhaving a different character may have a different weight, which weightis sensed by the working platform to identify the character. It isfurther contemplated that the working platform and the surface of theblock supported adjacent thereto may be transparent so that thetransmission system may be any of various optical systems. It isunderstood that various other known technologies may be used to generatethe character identification signal within working platform 28.

[0038] The blocks 20 may include between one and six characters on itsrespective surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, a block 20 will includea transmission system within the block for each of the characters on thesurfaces of the block. Thus, for example, in an embodiment where a block20 includes six characters, the block will includes six differenttransmission systems, with each character/transmission system pairprovided proximate to opposed surfaces from each other. It is understoodthat a block may include less transmission systems than there arecharacters on the block. In such an embodiment, the transmission systemwill transmit a particular character identification depending on theorientation of the block 20 on the working platform, i.e., depending onwhich character was showing on the top surface of the block.

[0039] It is necessary to identify not only the character information,but also the location of a block on the working platform relative toother blocks so as to allow identification of whole words, phrasesand/or mathematical results. Therefore, the working platform includesone of various known block location systems. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, working platform 28 includes a grid of readers 44. The grid ofreaders are intended to operate with the transmission system describedabove including receiver 38, microprocessing chip 40, and transmitter42. Each reader emits the energizing signal described above to energizethe microprocessor chip 40 of a block 20. The microprocessor chip thenemits the character identification signal back to the reader via thetransmitter 42, whereupon the signal is converted to a digital signal asexplained above. Readers such as readers 44 are commercially availablefrom Sensor Engineering Co., Hamden, Conn. 06517.

[0040] The readers 44 and transmission system 36 are configured suchthat a particular reader 44 will only receive a character identificationsignal from a block 20 if that block 20 is located proximately thereto.In one embodiment of the invention, a reader will only receive acharacter identification signal from a block located 2 to 4 inches away.With such a system, it is possible that more than one reader 44 willdetect a particular block. However, based on the number of readerswithin the working platform and the distance range over which a readerwill detect a particular block, the microprocessor 55 is able todetermine the location of the detected block 20 on the working platform.By identifying which reader receives a particular characteridentification signal, a block location signal associated with thatcharacter identification signal may also be generated.

[0041] It is understood that other known technologies may be utilized togenerate the block location signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, agrid may be set up as described above, but comprised of a plurality ofemitters 46 for emitting the energizing signal. The system may furthercomprise a single reader 47 for receiving a character identificationsignal. In order to generate the block location information signal, themicroprocessor 55 may control the emitters 46 to fire the energizingsignal one emitter at a time. Thus, breaking the emitter grid into acartesian plane of x,y coordinates, the emitter at 1,1 fires theenergizing signal at a time t₁. If there is a block 20 locatedthereabove, its chip is energized and a character identification signalis transmitted to the reader 47. Each emitter 46 fires the energizingsignal at a different time. The time t at which each emitter fires itsenergizing signal is known. Thus, by identifying the time at which acharacter identification signal is received in the reader 47, theemitter 46 which caused the generation of the character identificationsignal may be determined, and the block location signal may thus begenerated.

[0042] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the blocklocation system within the working platform may comprise a singlereader, such as for example one of the readers 44 shown in FIG. 5,capable of both transmitting an energizing signal and receiving acharacter identification signal. In this embodiment, the reader ismounted for translation so that the reader is moved across the entiresurface of the working platform. When a character identification signalis sensed by the reader, the position of the reader is noted, and theblock location signal associated with the sensed characteridentification signal is generated.

[0043] Grids of various other known configurations may be utilized inthe block location system in alternative embodiments of the inventionFor example, a grid of wires may be provided within the workingplatform, together with a single reader as described above capable ofboth transmitting an energizing signal and receiving a characteridentification signal. In this embodiment, in addition to transmittingthe character identification signal, each block also emits a magneticfield. Thus, when a block 20 is placed on the working platform, acharacter identification signal is generated. The magnetic field of thatblock also generates a current in one or more of the wires of the grid,from which the location of the block may be determined. Alternatively,the grid of wires may be energized sequentially much in the same way asdescribed in connection with FIG. 6 to induce a magnetic field tofacilitated detection of the location and identification of the blocks.

[0044] A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7and 8, where the position of each block 20 on the working platform maybe determined by a pair of sensors 48 a and 48 b. The sensors 48 a, 48 bare preferably provided at the upper corners of the working platform.However, the sensors 48 a, 48 b may alternatively be located at thelower corners, at the left or right corners, or spaced from each otheralong a side of the working platform. When a reader 44 or an emitter 46sends an energizing signal to energize a chip 40 as described above, thechip in this embodiment generates both a character identification signaland a proximity signal. The proximity signal is transmitted to both ofthe sensors 48 a and 48 b. Once a proximity signal is received in thesensors 48 a and 48 b, the signal may be used to determine the distancebetween the chip 40 and the sensors 48 a, 48 b, respectively, by knowntechnology. Such technologies include surface wave acoustics,measurement of the EM field emanating from the chip, or measurement ofthe time it takes for the signal to reach the sensors 48 a, and 48 b.Once the distance between a block 20 and the sensors 48 a and 48 b,respectively, is determined, the precise location of the block 20 on theworking platform 28 may be calculated by triangulation. It is understoodthat in an embodiment of the invention, the character identificationsignal may also act as the proximity signal.

[0045] As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, the sensors 48 a,48 b are preferably located in a lower portion of the working platform28 so that the proximity signal of a first block does not interfere witha proximity signal of a second block located between the first block andthe sensors 48 a, 48 b.

[0046] It is understood that other known technologies for generating thecharacter identification and block location information may be used inalternative embodiments of the invention. For example, a furtherembodiment of the invention incorporating many of the featurespreviously described to identify the location and identification of theplacement of a block on the working platform includes the use of aplatform that is able to detect the image of the impression of the blockon the platform, hereinafter referred to as image-sensitive platforms.Examples of image-sensitive platforms include touch-sensitive surfaces,such as those frequently used in many automated teller machines, oroptically-sensitive screens, such as a screen employing one or morearrays of imaging mechanisms, such as charge-coupled devices.

[0047] In this embodiment, the placement of a particular block on theimage-sensitive platform creates a unique impression on theimage-sensitive screen. The location of this impression is alsodetectable by the microprocessor 55. For example, in touch-sensitivedisplays, the controller is able to identify the location of theimpression by identifying the pixel or pixels associated with theimpressions of the block on the platform. Similarly, inoptically-sensitive screens, the controller is able to identify thelocation of the impression by identifying the array of charge-coupleddevices detecting the impression of the block on the platform. Theidentification of this impression is also detectable by themicroprocessor 55. By known imaging techniques, the controller cancompare the detected impression information with a plurality of imagesstored in memory to recognize the identification of the block.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the workingplatform may have a fixed number of discrete locations into which blocksmay only be placed. This is preferably accomplished by providing a fixednumber of indentations approximately the size of the block on thesurface of the working platform. Typically, the indentations may be aquarter of an inch deep. The indentations may be arranged either in asingle row or column or in a multidimensional array. According to thisembodiment, there would exist only a fixed number of locations on theworking platform in which a block may be located. There are advantagesassociated with this embodiment. Because there are only a fixed numberof locations on the working platform in which a block may be placed, thegeneration of block location and identification information issimplified. In this embodiment, it is possible to have only one readeror sensor associated with each discrete location. The possibility thatmore than one reader or sensor will detect more than one particularblock is greatly reduced or eliminated.

[0049] In operation, when a block is placed on the working platform andthe microprocessor 55 has recognized its location and identification, aseries of actions are set into motion. The microprocessor 55 encodes thelocation and identification information into an binary messagecompatible with protocols of today's personal computers. An example ofsuch a protocol is set forth in Frank Van Gilluwe, The PC Undocumented,A Programmer's Guide to I/O, CPUs, and Fixed Memory Areas. As shown onFIG. 9, the microprocessor 55 sends an encoded message over line 32. Theline 32 is connected to the processing device 22 via any of theprocessing device's many input/output connectors (e.g., mouse connector,keyboard connector or the parallel or serial ports) A controller 56 inthe processing device 22 receives the encoded message. The controller 56translates the encoded message into a system value and places the valueinto a buffer 57. The controller 56 then issues an interrupt request viainterrupt control 58 indicating that data is available in output buffer57. The operating system of the processing device 22 or applicationprogram running thereon uses an interrupt to access the buffer 57 viaCPU 30. Various interrupt functions are used to find and retrieve blockinformation and to determine the block information in the buffer 57.

[0050] The controller 56 in the processing device 22 communicates withthe working platform over line 32. A synchronized clock line is providedfrom the controller 56 to the working platform via microprocessor 55when data are sent from the working platform. Preferably, informationover line 32 is sent in an 11-bit serial frame consisting of a startbit, 8 data bits, an odd parity bit. and a stop bit. It is understoodthat different length frames and different configurations of the framesconsistent with the processing device 22 are contemplated by the presentinvention. Internal to the working platform is a first-in-first-outbuffer 59. Preferably, this buffer 59 holds up to 20 bytes ofinformation although a platform buffer of smaller or great size iscontemplated within the present invention.

[0051] In the idle state, both the data and clock lines are high Tobegin sending the data to the processing device 22, the working platformsends the start bit on the line 32. The controller 56 responds bystarting the clock line, with the first clock pulse going low. The clockis continued, with the working platform sending each bit in turn. At the11th clock, the working platform sends the stop bit, and the clock lineresumes its idle state.

[0052] Depending on the configuration of the working platform, the datasent from the working platform to the controller 56 normally includesone or more of the following: block identification information, blocklocation information, and/or commands. A placement of a block on theworking platform may result in the transmission of identificationinformation alone, location information alone, or both identificationand location information to the keyboard controller. While a block ismoved on the working platform, the working platform transmits theidentification of the moved block and the new locations of the block onthe working platform. When a block is removed from the working platform,the working platform will transmit a removal code along withidentification of the block removed.

[0053] In operation, the,above-described hardware is preferably usedwith software applications which, in general, prompt a child to arrangethe blocks 20 in a particular configuration on the working platform 28.The prompt can be, for example, a question that either appears visuallyon the monitor 24 or is played over the speaker 26. Once the child hasarranged the blocks 20 in what he or she believes to be the correctresponse to the question, the button 34 is depressed, the microprocessor55 generates the character identification and block locationinformation, and the result is sent to the CPU 30 (it is understood thatthe microprocessor 55 may continuously generates characteridentification and block location information as blocks are set down andlifted from the working platform). The CPU 30 then indicates to thechild whether or not that response is correct. If the response isincorrect, the software can prompt the child to try again.

[0054] It is understood that the software may be written to ask a widevariety of questions, appropriate for children of various ages andeducational levels. For example, the child may be prompted to spell aseries of words, either audibly over the speaker, or by showing apicture of the object to be spelled on the monitor. In one embodiment,the software program may branch to more difficult or simple questions,depending on the number of correct previous answers. In a furtherembodiment intended for children first learning the alphabet, the childmay randomly place a block on the working platform, and the softwarethen audibly indicates the sound of the letter, and shows a number ofwords including that letter.

[0055] The applications software may be stored within the system on thedata storage device 23, loaded onto the system from a from a floppydrive, or received into the system from a remote location over datatransmission lines.

[0056] It is understood that the software and/or hardware according tothe present invention may be provided for operation by individuals otherthan children. For example, as indicated above, the characters on thesurfaces of the blocks 20 may be braille characters to teach individualsthe braille language

[0057] In a further embodiment, the blocks 20 may comprise tiles havingletters and numbers thereon such as those on the tiles of the board gameScrabble®. In this embodiment, the processing device 22 may beconfigured to read words formed both vertically and horizontally, andthe software may include an encoded dictionary in memory. Thus, thepresent invention may operate as an electronic Scrabble® game, whereletter sequences are formed on the board, and the processing device 22indicates whether the letter sequences in fact form words found in thestored dictionary.

[0058] Although the invention has been described in detail herein, itshould be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiments herein disclosed. Various changes, substitutions andmodifications may be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as described anddefined by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An educational system, comprising: an object having atleast one visually recognizable symbol thereon; an emitter within saidobject for emitting a signal uniquely representative of said at leastone visually recognizable symbol; and an enclosure, including: a surfacefor supporting said object, and a processor, including means forreceiving said signal from said emitter, said processor capable ofidentifying said symbol from said signal, and capable of identifying aposition of said object on said surface.
 2. An apparatus for enteringdata into a computer, the data being entered via the placement of aplurality of objects on the apparatus, each object having at least oneunique item of detectable data associated therewith, comprising: asurface for receiving the placement of an object; one or more detectorscapable of detecting the data associated with an object placed on thesurface; a line capable of communicating the detected data from theapparatus to the computer.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2 whereby thedetectors are capable of detecting the location of an object on thesurface.